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An Explanation of the Moral Zeitgeist, as Proposed by Atheists
==About the Moral ''Zeitgeist''==
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' is a term used by atheists to describe the evolution of morality. Proponents of a moral ''Zeitgeist'' believe that morality evolved to help our ape-like ancestors survive in large groups as social animals. This theory suggests that moral acceptability is chosen by the masses. As people's view of what is morally right and wrong changes, the moral ''Zeitgeist'' is said to "shift."
There appears to be a universal moral consensus as to what makes something morally acceptable. Richard Dawkins illustrates this with respect to racism in chapter 7 of his book ''The God Delusion'':
<blockquote>
In the early part of the twentieth century, almost everybody in Britain... would be judged racist by today's standards. Most white people believed that black people... were inferior to white people in almost all respects except --- patronizingly --- sense of rhythm. The 1920s equivalent of James Bond was... Bulldog Drummond. In one novel, ''The Black Gang'', Drummond refers to "Jews, foreigners, and other unwashed folk." In... ''The Female of the Species'', Drummond is cleverly disguised as Pedro, black servant of the archvillain. For his dramatic disclosure... that "Pedro" is really Drummond himself... he chose these words: "Every beard is not false, but every nigger smells. That beard ain't false, dearie, and dis nigger don't smell [...]"... I read it... three decades after it was written, and it was (just) still possible for a boy to thrill to the drama and not notice the racism. Nowadays, it would be inconceivable.
</blockquote>
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' is believed to be independent of any religious principles. However, it is freely admitted that the moral ''Zeitgeist'' changes universally and sometimes very quickly. This suggests to its proponents that something effects its changes, however, nothing has yet been found to do so.
===The Evolution of Morality===
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' was proposed to explain the evolution of morality. While natural selection favors ''individuals'' instead of ''populations'', it has been proposed that it must have been more beneficial to the individuals of the species to behave somewhat morally (No society, not even a small clan of apes, can function well if the members go around killing each other). This is also used to explain why people have a tendency to be more moral to the people to whom they are most closely related.
The changing moral ''Zeitgeist'' is believed to be the evolution of morality.
==The Word ''Zeitgeist''==
''Zeitgeist'' is a German word meaning "spirit of the times."
==Controversy==
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' is incompatible with moral absolutism and religious morality. Moral absolutism suggests that actions are either morally right, acceptable, or wrong, regardless of the context. Religious morality suggests that actions are either morally right, acceptable, or wrong based on the religion's teaching (see [[Buddhism]]) or the revelations of a deity or deities<ref>Some religious people would consider their morals absolute</ref>. The moral ''Zeitgeist'' suggests that actions are morally right, acceptable, or wrong based on the opinions of the masses.
==Quotes==
"There seems to be a steadily shifting standard of what is morally acceptable... Something... has shifted in all of us, and the shift has no connection with religion. If anything, it happens in spite of religion, not because of it."
--- Richard Dawkins, The ''God Delusion''
==See Also==
[[Morality]]
[[Atheism]]
[[The God Delusion]]
[[Richard Dawkins]]
==References==
''The God Delusion'' (Chapter 7) by [http://www.richarddawkins.net Richard Dawkins]
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' is a term used by atheists to describe the evolution of morality. Proponents of a moral ''Zeitgeist'' believe that morality evolved to help our ape-like ancestors survive in large groups as social animals. This theory suggests that moral acceptability is chosen by the masses. As people's view of what is morally right and wrong changes, the moral ''Zeitgeist'' is said to "shift."
There appears to be a universal moral consensus as to what makes something morally acceptable. Richard Dawkins illustrates this with respect to racism in chapter 7 of his book ''The God Delusion'':
<blockquote>
In the early part of the twentieth century, almost everybody in Britain... would be judged racist by today's standards. Most white people believed that black people... were inferior to white people in almost all respects except --- patronizingly --- sense of rhythm. The 1920s equivalent of James Bond was... Bulldog Drummond. In one novel, ''The Black Gang'', Drummond refers to "Jews, foreigners, and other unwashed folk." In... ''The Female of the Species'', Drummond is cleverly disguised as Pedro, black servant of the archvillain. For his dramatic disclosure... that "Pedro" is really Drummond himself... he chose these words: "Every beard is not false, but every nigger smells. That beard ain't false, dearie, and dis nigger don't smell [...]"... I read it... three decades after it was written, and it was (just) still possible for a boy to thrill to the drama and not notice the racism. Nowadays, it would be inconceivable.
</blockquote>
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' is believed to be independent of any religious principles. However, it is freely admitted that the moral ''Zeitgeist'' changes universally and sometimes very quickly. This suggests to its proponents that something effects its changes, however, nothing has yet been found to do so.
===The Evolution of Morality===
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' was proposed to explain the evolution of morality. While natural selection favors ''individuals'' instead of ''populations'', it has been proposed that it must have been more beneficial to the individuals of the species to behave somewhat morally (No society, not even a small clan of apes, can function well if the members go around killing each other). This is also used to explain why people have a tendency to be more moral to the people to whom they are most closely related.
The changing moral ''Zeitgeist'' is believed to be the evolution of morality.
==The Word ''Zeitgeist''==
''Zeitgeist'' is a German word meaning "spirit of the times."
==Controversy==
The moral ''Zeitgeist'' is incompatible with moral absolutism and religious morality. Moral absolutism suggests that actions are either morally right, acceptable, or wrong, regardless of the context. Religious morality suggests that actions are either morally right, acceptable, or wrong based on the religion's teaching (see [[Buddhism]]) or the revelations of a deity or deities<ref>Some religious people would consider their morals absolute</ref>. The moral ''Zeitgeist'' suggests that actions are morally right, acceptable, or wrong based on the opinions of the masses.
==Quotes==
"There seems to be a steadily shifting standard of what is morally acceptable... Something... has shifted in all of us, and the shift has no connection with religion. If anything, it happens in spite of religion, not because of it."
--- Richard Dawkins, The ''God Delusion''
==See Also==
[[Morality]]
[[Atheism]]
[[The God Delusion]]
[[Richard Dawkins]]
==References==
''The God Delusion'' (Chapter 7) by [http://www.richarddawkins.net Richard Dawkins]